Humza Yousaf has said he would be open to overhauling his plan to create a National Care Service if he becomes Scotland's next First Minister.
The ambitious scheme to centralise control of the country's social care provision has been fiercely criticised by local authorities, trade unions and opposition parties.
Yousaf, who has played a central role in the plan as health secretary, previously claimed it was the most ambitious healthcare reform since the creation of the NHS.
But he has now signalled the scheme could be reworked if succeeds Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader.
"I’m willing to work with those who oppose the current plan to see if the there are some areas where we could compromise,” he told Holyrood magazine.
On other policies he may look at if elected, he said: "Nicola Sturgeon has got us to a place where the party and the independence movement are at dizzying heights and a lot of the policies like The Promise and the work done on Social Security Scotland are very close to my heart."
Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour health spokeswoman, said: "This is a welcome U-turn from the health minister.
"After months of denying that there is any issue with this botched bill, it is encouraging to hear that Mr Yousaf has finally heeded the calls made by Scottish Labour, CoSLA, the trade union movement, care providers, carers and those receiving care.
"With Humza Yousaf now the second leadership candidate to admit that there are issues with this bill, it is all too clear that it should be paused and redesigned in consultation with stakeholders."
Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, said: "Given the sheer volume of organisations and experts lining up to criticise the National Care Service it is little wonder that Humza Yousaf is open to compromises to try and keep this doomed project alive.
"Tinkering around the edge does not change the fact that this is still a ministerial power grab to create a billion pound bureaucracy and take power away from local communities. The legislation needs to be scrapped, not salvaged."
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